| Dance sport is set to become an Olympic event. | | | | the symptoms of the condition are backache, |
| Personally I am not in favor of this. Not for a | | | | shortness of breath, digestive and mobility problems. |
| moment would I dispute the fact that dancers have | | | | In spite of the pain this man loved dance sport.His |
| considerable athletic prowess. Nonetheless, I feel that | | | | wife was also his dancing partner. |
| all Olympic events should be decided on technical and | | | | Many other dancers did not understand this man's |
| verifiable rules and regulations. In my personal opinion | | | | physical problems and were annoyed when he got in |
| no Olympic event should have an aesthetic and | | | | their way, bumped into them or when he and his |
| therefore subjective element. | | | | partner tripped and fell. Teachers were also not |
| That said, I love dance sport. Like millions of other | | | | necessarily understanding and sympathetic. It was |
| people I avidly watch the TV shows, such as | | | | very difficult for the man to assume certain positions. |
| "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can | | | | Both he and his wife often ended up with sprained |
| Dance" in which it features. | | | | ankles and grazed knees. Despite all of these |
| Dance sport views dance as a sporting activity. A | | | | difficulties he found that dancing helped to maintain |
| man and a woman participate as a couple. There are | | | | his posture and reduce his symptoms. |
| also team events. Judging is based on technique, use | | | | After twenty years this enormously courageous man |
| of floor space and artistic interpretation of the music. | | | | went to the United States to undergo a treatment |
| Originally this dance form developed from | | | | new at that time. As a resullt of not being able to |
| competitive International Style. The remit has been | | | | take part in dance sport both the man and his wife |
| widened to include any internationally recognized | | | | became extremely depressed. He was made even |
| dance style which is sport orientated. | | | | unhappier by the knowledge that dancing was not |
| International Style Dance sport comprises:a Standard | | | | only his wife's form of exercise but was also her |
| Section, a Latin American section,a Ten Dance | | | | principal hobby. |
| section consisting of 5 standard and 5 Latin dances, | | | | Two years after the treatment they were able to |
| and a Rock 'n' Roll Section. | | | | start dancing again. Gradually they improved with |
| Dance sport is performed at both professional and | | | | practice. They even found that some things, such as |
| amateur levels. Amateur competition levels are | | | | the promenade steps had become easier due to |
| designated by the letters ABCDE, E being the lowest | | | | improved posture and the rotational correction of his |
| with A the highest. Some countries have an | | | | spine brought about by the treatment. |
| international class S. Class C dancers are only allowed | | | | After four months of lessons this man and his wife |
| to perform dance steps from the syllabus. | | | | entered their very first Senior Competition and |
| Dancers are liable to problems such as stress | | | | gained 7th place: a tremendous achievement. They |
| fractures for example. Ballroom dancers cannot avoid | | | | now intend to go on dancing as long as they can. |
| putting great strain on the second metatarsal | | | | There is also a report written by a woman injured in |
| bone.This is the bone in the middle of the foot next | | | | the Bosnian War. She was wounded in the upper left |
| to the big toe. The rise and fall of slower dances | | | | leg and some nerves were irreparably damaged. She |
| such as the foxtrot and waltz puts great strain on | | | | is now unable to tense her left foot, in fact she has |
| this bone. | | | | no feeling at all in the foot. But she is working very |
| Putting thins right may involve a cast and rest will | | | | hard and is determined to be a great dancer and find |
| almost certainly be necessary. It may be three | | | | a way around her difficulties. |
| months or so before competition and flat out dancing | | | | Those people who are relying on exercise as a |
| is possible. | | | | protection against heart attack should think again. |
| Training is intense.Often dancers will practice five | | | | People have been known to have heart attacks while |
| times a week for hours on end. The emphasis on | | | | dancing. Good health and lessening the risk of heart |
| appearance by some teachers has had dire effects | | | | attack and stroke has a second factor: diet. The diet |
| on certain sensitive dancers. There are accounts of | | | | must be balanced - not too much of any one food |
| girls being told that they are overweight and then | | | | group. We have all heard this a thousand times. We |
| losing as much as 42 lbs in weight, developing | | | | may understand on one level the essential value of |
| anorexia with it's attendant hair loss, depression, | | | | exercise, and diet to good health. Nevertheless, food |
| cessation of periods and sleep disruption. But some | | | | habits are amongst the most difficult to alter. |
| of these girls have nonetheless been able to continue | | | | Perseverance really does bring rewards. |
| dancing and have used this activity as a means of | | | | There is no doubt that dance sport is a healthy |
| self-expression and escape from depression. | | | | means of exercise, self-expression and the |
| Dance as a means of overcoming physical and mental | | | | competitive spirit. Like any form of sport or exercise |
| health problems is well documented. I have heard the | | | | it is important not to over stress the body. Over |
| story of a man with Scoliosis. This is a condition | | | | stressing the body leads to the exact opposite of |
| where the spine is curved and twisted. It leads to | | | | what one if trying to achieve. |
| the rib cage affecting the heart and lungs. Some of | | | | |